How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone

To pair your AirPods with any other device or an older Mac, you just need to find the easy pairing button on the AirPods charging case. Look at the back of the AirPods case. See the matte silver circle near the bottom, just above the Lightning port? It's the "set up button" you need to pair the AirPod with other devices, used when the W1 can't automatically pair with other devices.

To put the AirPod in pairing mode, here's what the user needs to do:

1. Put the AirPods in the charging case.
2. Open the lid of the box, you will see a light pop up, indicating the battery charge status.
3. Press and hold the round button on the back of the AirPods case. The light inside the box will start flashing white. This indicates that your AirPod is in pairing mode.

While the white light is flashing, the AirPods will "be detectable". In other words, they'll appear as peripherals so that they can be paired from Bluetooth settings, just like any other Bluetooth headset or speaker. 

Here are details on how to connect Airpods to Bluetooth devices

1. 1. How to connect Airpods to a Windows laptop
2. 2. How to connect Airpods to Mac OS
3. 3. How to connect AirPods to PS4
4. 4. How to connect AirPods to Apple TV
5. 5. How to connect the AirPods headset to an Android phone

1. How to connect Airpods to a Windows laptop

Make sure your AirPods are fully charged and put in the charging case. On a Windows 10 computer, go to Settings.

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 1

- Then, click on Devices. On the Device preferences window, make sure Bluetooth is turned on (the switch should be slide to the right and be blue).

- Click to select Add Bluetooth or other device (Add Bluetooth or other divice).

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 2

Open the case of the AirPods case and press and hold the small button on the back of the case for a few seconds, until the status light on the front of the case starts flashing white.

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 3

- On your laptop will appear in the list of available devices to pair (first they can appear under the name Headphones, then change to AirPods after a moment). Click on the AirPods to connect.

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 4

Windows will connect to the AirPods and display a successful message. After completing Bluetooth setup, tap Done and close the Settings window.

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 5

2. How to connect Airpods to Mac OS

If installed on the AirPods using the same iCloud account as the one on the MacBook, then it will be easy to connect the two devices together. 

Then just put your AirPods in your ear and click the Bluetooth mark on the menu bar on your Mac, and select your AirPods name from the list of connections.

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 6

If you can't find the AirPods in that menu, follow the steps here:

Tap the volume icon on your Mac's menu bar and choose AirPod in the list of available devices, or go to Apple menu> System Preferences> Sound and select AirPods.

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 7

- Double check whether the Bluetooth on the device is really on or not. Then put both the AirPods in the charging case and open the lid. Press and hold the Install button on the back of the case until the indicator light turns white.

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 8

1. Go back to the Bluetooth preferences window on your Mac and select the name of the AirPods in the list of devices, then click the Connect button.

3. How to connect AirPods to PS4

To connect the AirPods to the PS4, you must have an auxiliary device that is Bluetooth Play Dongle for PS4. The accessory is extremely cheap and allows you to connect your AirPods 2 or AirPods Pro to a PlayStation 4 console. 

1. Step 1: Plug the Wireless Bluetooth Dongle for PS4 device into the front USB port.
2. Step 2: Wait for the Dongle to flash green, which means the combination mode is turned on.
3. Step 3: Open the box of AirPods.
4. Step 4: Press and hold the connect button on the back of the AirPods case.
5. Step 5: Your AirPods are now connected to PS4, displayed by the blue light on the Dongle no longer blinking.
6. Step 6: Plug the mic adapter into the 3.5mm port on the PS4 controller.
7. Step 7: There is a message displayed on the screen, confirming the device is connected.
8. Step 8: Now your AirPods are fully connected to the PS4, allowing you to listen and speak through this headset while playing games.

4. How to connect AirPods to Apple TV

The first thing to do is connect your AirPods. In Settings, go to Remotes and Devices → Bluetooth and check if your AirPods are connected.

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 9

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 10

If they don't appear, hold the button on the back of your AirPods case and pair them with the Apple TV.

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 11

In addition to selecting the AirPods from the settings screen, there are two quick ways to set up the audio output for any headset or HomePod. On the Home screen, press and hold the play / pause button on the remote control. This will bring you to a screen where you can quickly select the output device.

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 12

However, if you're watching something, you can also hold the Play / Pause button on your Remote Apple TV, swipe right to select the Sound tab, then choose either AirPods or HomePod.

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 13

5. How to connect the AirPods headset to an Android phone

Step 1: Put the AirPods back into the charging case.

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 14

Step 2: Open the lid and hold down the button on the back of the box to put the headset in Pair mode until the light flashes white.

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 15

Step 3: Turn on Bluetooth on your device by going to Settings> Bluetooth and turn the switch to ON to activate.

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 16

Step 4: After detecting, choose the name of the AirPods device displayed on the list to connect to the phone.

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 17

After successfully connecting to the phone, the user can:

1. Listen to music, listen to calls like normal bluetooth headset.
2. Use function 2-touch on headphones to Play / Pause songs.

Limitations when using AirPods with Android

You won't be able to use all the features that the AirPods offer when connecting to a non-Apple device like:

How to connect airpods to Windows laptop, MacBook, PS4, Apple TV, Android Phone Picture 18

1. Siri not supported.
2. There is no battery notification on the phone screen.
3. The feature to automatically pause the sound when removing the AirPods from your ear is not activated.
4. No activation is warranted.
5. The headset name cannot be changed.
6. The action is not customizable when the ear button is double-pressed.
7. The software cannot be updated.

Good luck.

David Pac

Update 16 October 2020